best souvenirs to buy in Mexico

17 best souvenirs to buy in Mexico<br /><br />The very word souvenir evokes visions of cheesy trinkets destined to fall apart before you get them home. The Spanish word, recuerdo, is an improvement. It translates to reminder what a souvenir ought to be. The best are specific to the place you visited and, ideally, made by local people. travelers have become more sophisticated about shopping in Mexico. Once you delve into the countrys rich artisan traditions, the problem becomes how to choose and maybe how to get it home. But somewhere between the decorated margarita glass and the hand carved wooden bed lies the recuerdo for you, or for your friends and family at home. If youll be south of the border in the next month or two, you could even whittle that Christmas list down to size.Here are some of our favorite candidates for souvenirs youll still love just as much when you get it back on home soil as you did when it called to you in the plaza or market:Food and drinkTequila: More and more tequilas are available in the United States now, but there are still plenty of inexpensive and often very good ones that dont make it north look for 100 percent agave on the label. And you should be able to find the astronomically expensive Herradura Seleccion Suprema for a more manageable price than youll find it here. Xtabentun:The honey anisette liqueur based on the ancient ceremonial drink produced by Maya beekeepers is more of a novelty. Made in the Yucatn, it is becoming more popular in other parts of the country. Coffee: Mexico is the worlds largest producer of certified organic coffee and a leader in fair trade coffee. Oaxaca, Chiapas and the Coatepec region of Veracruz are the prime growing areas, with Oaxacas Pluma coffee considered the best; look for Tres Flechas, Loxicha or Tres Oros brands. Dulce de leche/cajeta: A first cousin to caramel, but made with sweetened condensed milk rather than sugar, cajeta is widely used in candy bars and cake fillings, but if you can resist eating it right off the spoon youre less than human. Large quantities are sold in plastic jars, but go for the little wooden boxes cajetas the cajeta is aged in the wood for a unique flavor, and you can buy it inexpensively in parks, especially on Sundays. Achiote: The piquant, earthy spice made from ground annato seeds gives Yucatecan cuisine its distinctive taste and is a joy for any cook to experiment with. It comes in packets of pre mixed paste, but the mountains of fresh ground seeds in local markets are best. Chocolate: The gold standard is criollo chocolate, grown today mostly in Chiapas and Tabasco states but used all over Mexico. Mexican chocolate is synonymous with Oaxacas version, typically ground with sugar, cinnamon and almonds. A molinillo, the rattle shaped tool used to whip hot chocolate, also makes a unique and useful souvenir.Jewelry Coral: Sold in much of Mexico but originating in coastal areas, especially along the Caribbean, coral jewelry is a specialty in Cozumel. But no matter how tempting, and no matter how many government permits sellers wave at you, dont buy black coral its endangered and subject to confiscation by customs need we say the same goes for tortoiseshell?. Silver: No matter where they are sold, most silver items come from Taxco, which has something like 200 silver shops. The Saturday morning silver tianguis marketplace sells all things silver at bargain prices that can be negotiated down even further. Quality ranges from cheap mass produced trinkets to exquisite hand crafted pieces. Look for the .925 stamp indicating durable sterling silver. For true collectors items, head to the Spratling workshop in the historic center.Folk artAlebrijes: These brilliant wood carvings in the form of animals both real and imagined are made in Oaxaca and are least expensive there. Price varies with quality and artist, but small versions go for a few dollars. Better still, visit wood carvers studios in the villages surrounding Oaxaca City, where you can watch the artisans at work and buy your souvenir directly from its creator.PotteryTalavera: The bright blue and white ceramic originated with the Moors and came to Puebla with the Spanish. Traditional Talavera tiles, still made by hand using 16th century techniques, define the citys architecture, but the glazed earthenware is also made into vases, bowls, plates and mugs. A quite handsome but less expensive version is made in Dolores Hidalgo. Many workshops in both regions are open to visitors. Clay: Mexicos diverse geology produces many types of clay; the most common is red clay. For a rarer souvenir, look for barro negro, the distinctive pearly black pottery from Oaxaca that is made into everything from childrens whistles to small bowls and dishes to large, elaborate urns. The village of San Bartolo Coyotepec is famous for its black clay, made as the ancient Zapotecs did.Clothing and textilesPanama hats: Far better than an unwieldy sombrero, Panama hats are made not in Panama but in Ecuador and, less well known, in the humid caves of Campeche states town of Becal. Closeness of the weave and fineness of the fibers determine price. Besides looking cool and making an effective sunscreen, well made, close weave hats spring back into shape no matter how much you punish them. Traditional Yucatecan garb: Guayaberas, comfortable tropical mens shirts decorated with subtle embroidery, translate surprisingly well to everyday wear north of the border. Skip the newer polyester versions and stick with traditional linen or cotton, which are the coolest. Womens huipiles, simple white cotton dresses with bright embroidered flowers around the neck, wont do for the office but are fun, and beautiful, for casual wear. Hand embroidered designs are expensive, but attractive, less expensive versions are also available in markets. Rebozos shawls are another good buy that will see plenty of use. Leather: For the best quality and prices on leather goods, head for cattle country. After embroidery, leatherwork is Valladolids most important craft. Inexpensive sandals, belts, purses and wallets are sold in the Mercado de Artesanias, or you can poke into workshops around town. Wool rugs: The Zapotec village of Teotitln del Valle is the best known of a string of textile producing towns outside of Oaxaca. Its intricate rugs and other wool weavings are hand loomed and dyed with indigo, insects, molasses and other natural sources. Seek out the weavers homes on the towns main street, and youll be able to get a better deal than in the local stores.Toys Classic childrens toys: Marionetas puppets, maracas and other noisemakers, wooden flutes and small dolls wearing typical dress of different regions are inexpensive and widely available from street vendors and markets. For older girls, accessories such as a sarong or a small hand woven bag, coin purse or wrist or ankle band are less likely to abandoned when kids reach their teens. Toys for macho macho men: Theyre not for everyone, but lucha libre fans can get authentic masks for less than the imports sold here. Theyre easiest to find at the arenas if you attend a match. Hand rolled Cuban cigars are widely available in Mexico, especially in southern states. So are cheap local knock offs, so know your source. Just remember, we did not advise you to smuggle one past customs agents.